Shelf supporting bracket



Oct. 18, 1960 F. J. GALASSI SHELF SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed March 2. 1959 G 7 .le

pZ ENZOR. BY Wi /2a SHELF SUPPORTING BRACKET Francis J. Galassi, Boston, Mass., assignorto Russell E. Maintain, Newton, Mass.

Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,376

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-243) This invention relates to a shelf supporting bracket which is especially useful in assemblies having adjustable shelves.

One object of my invention is to provide a shelf supporting bracket with a plurality of tongues which are so constructed that the bracket bears against its supporting standard at an unusually large number of bearing points.

Another object is to provide such a bracket with more than the usual number of tongues so formed that the bracket can readily be inserted in openings in its supporting standard, and readily removed.

A further object is to provide said bracket with a lower tongue which has a guiding surface whereby it serves as a guide as it enters an opening in said supporting standard, guiding the upper tongues into predetermined position on said standard.

A still further object is to so construct said bracket that its cost of production is about the same as previously known brackets it is intended to replace. a

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction and arrangement such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosedby the drawing nor to the particu-.

lar parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom my claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my bracket.

as fall within the scope of Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing my bracket in mounted position on an upright supporting standard.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing my bracket entering into position on said standard, the latter being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational View showing my bracket in mounted position on said standard, the latter being shown in section.

As illustrated, my shelf supporting bracket, which may be made of sheet metal, has a main body 10 with two slots 12 at its outer end for use in attaching a shelf. At the inner end of said body is an upper tongue 14 and there is a slot 16 between the latter and said main body 10 which is bounded at its innermost extremity by a straight edge 17 that extends upwardly in position of use.

Spaced below said upper tongue 14 is an intermediate tongue 18 and there is a slot 20 between it and said main body 10 that is shorter than, and does not extend as far outwardly as said slot 16. This slot 20 is bounded at its innermost extremity by a straight edge 22 that extends upwardly in position of use. Between said upper and intermediate tongues, there is a straight surface 24 extending upwardly in position of use.

Spaced below said intermediate tongue 18 is a lower tongue 26 that preferably is slightly spaced above the lower extremity of said body. Said lower tongue extends;

farther outwardly towards said body 10 than said tongues. 14 and 18, the lower surface of which has anarcuate portion as at 28 that serves as a guide, later described. Immediately above and below said lower tongue.

24 there are shallow, outwardly extending recesses. 30 in said body 10 and directly above and spaced from said,

lower recesses in another shallow, outwardly extending recess 32. Those recesses 30 and 32 are a conveniencein manufacturing my bracket. Extending between the 1ntermediate and lower tongues, is a straight surface extending upwardly. In Fig. 4 of the drawing, my intermediate bracket is, shown in the process of being connected to an upright supporting standard 40 having a plurality of openings 42, therein. In connecting my bracket to said standard, said; bracket is held so as to extend diagonally outward and upward, as shown in said Fig. 4, and said tongue 14 is first, inserted through a said opening 42 while said intermediate tongue 18 extends only partly into a lower said opening 42.

Thereafter, said lower tongue 26, by a rotative, clock wise movement of said bracket, enters the next lower said opening 42 and its lower, arcuate cam surface 28 bears. against said standard 40 immediately below saidlatter opening 42. As said rotative, clockwise movement c'on-. tinues, said guiding surface 28 o-f'said lower tongue bears, against said standard 40 and ultimately forces said upper; and intermediate tongues 14 and 18 upwardly in their slots and. causing said straight edges 17 and 22 to bear, against said standard 40 rearwardiy of said opening 42,; asshowninsaid Fig.5..

- The lower edge of said lower tongue 26 bears against, said standard 40 at a point just below its receiving opening, thus keeping said upper and intermediate brackets in raised position in their openings as shown in Fig. 5. The" rear portionsof said bracket body 10 above and below said lower tongue 26 bear against said standard 40, thus; holdingsaid bracket firmly in place. 1 e 7 What I claim is: 1

I. A shelf-supporting bracket comprising, in position; of use, a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said: body having a straight inner edge, said main body'having a slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body terminatingat said inner edge, an intermediatetongue spaced from said upper tongue having a'straight' inner edge, said body having a slot narrower than the: first-mentioned slot and oppositeand betweensaid inter mediate tongue and said body terminating reaiwardly at: said latter inner edge, and a lower tongue spaced from said intermediate tongue and extending farther forwardlytowards said body than said straight inner edges of said, upper and intermediate tongues. r

2. A shelf supporting bracket comprising, in position of use, a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body, said main body having a slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, an intermediate tongue spaced from said upper tongue, said body having a slot narrower than the first-mentioned slot and opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, and a lower unslotted tongue spaced from said intermediate tongue and extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, said lower tongue having an arcuate lower surface.

3. A shelf supporting bracket comprising, in position of use, a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body, said main body having a slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, an intermediate tongue spaced from said upper tongue, said body having a slot narrower than the first-mentioned slot and opposite and Patented Oct. 18, 1960;

between said intermediate tongue and said body, and a lower tongue spaced from said intermediate tongue and extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, said lower tongue having a straight upper surface and an arcuate lower surface.

4. A shelf supporting bracket comprising, in position of use, a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body, having a straight inner edge, said main body having a slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body terminating at said inner edge, an intermediate tongue spaced from said upper tongue having a straight inner edge, said body having a slot opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, and narrower than said upper tongue slot and terminating rearwardly at said latter inner edge, and a lower tongue spaced from said intermediate tongue and extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, said lower tongue having a straight upper surface and an arcuate lower surface.

S. A shelf supporting bracket in combination with an upright supporting standard, said standard having a plurality of openings therethrough, said bracket comprising a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body extending through a said opening, said body having a first slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, a portion of said body forming the lower boundary of said slot bearing against a portion of said standard above said opening, said bracket comprising an intermediate tongue rearwardly of said body extending through a second said opening, said body having a second slot opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, a portion of said body forming the lower boundary of said latter slot bearing against a portion of said standard above said second opening, said bracket comprising a lower tongue extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, and extending through a third said opening, said lower tongue bearing against a portion of said standard below said third opening, the upper, inner extremities of said upper and intermediate tongues respectively bearing against portions of said standard rearwardly of and immediately above said first and second slots.

6. A shelf supporting bracket in combination with an upright supporting standard, said standard having a plurality of openings therethrough, said bracket comprising a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body extending through said opening, said body having a first slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, said bracket comprising an intermediate tongue rearwardly of said body extending through a second said opening, said body having a second slot opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, said bracket comprising a lower tongue extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, and extending through a third said opening, said lower tongue bearing against a portion of said standard below said third opening, said body immediately above said lower tongue being in contact with portions of said standard immediately above said third opening, the upper, inner extremities of said upper and intermediate tongues respectively bearing against portions of said standard rearwardly of and immediately above said first and second slots.

7. A shelf supporting bracket in combination with an upright supporting standard, said standard having a plurality of openings therethrough, said bracket comprising a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body extending through a said opening, said body having a first slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, a portion of said body forming the lower boundary of said slot bearing against a portion of said standard above said opening, said bracket comprising an intermediate tongue rearwardly of said body extending through a second said opening, said body having a second slot opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, a portion of said body forming the lower boundary of said latter slot bearing against a portion of said standard above said second opening, said bracket comprising a lower tongue extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots, and extending through a third said opening and having an arcuate lower surface, said lower tongue bearing against a portion of said standard below said third opening, said body immediately above and below said lower tongue being in contact with portions of said standard immediately above and below said third opening, the upper, inner extremities of said upper and intermediate tongues respectively bearing against portions of said standard rearwardly of and immediately above said first and second slots.

8. A shelf supporting bracket comprising, in position of use, a main body, an upper tongue rearwardly of said body, said main body having a slot opposite and between said upper tongue and said body, an intermediate tongue spaced from said upper tongue, said body having a slot narrower than the first-mentioned slot and opposite and between said intermediate tongue and said body, and a lower tongue spaced from said intermediate tongue and extending farther forwardly towards said body than the portions of said upper and intermediate tongues that commence immediately rearward of said first and second slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,375 Vanderveld Oct. 10, 1911 2,498,623 Poupitch Feb. 21, 1950 2,653,783 Lindsay Sept. 29, 1953 2,845,187 Bianchi July 29, 1958 

